Mining and loading machine having pivotally mounted rotary disintegrating mechanism



Nov. 6, 1962 c. F. OSGOOD MINING AND LOADING MACHINE HAVING 3,062,519 PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1958 lNNENTOR: M W

Nov. 6, 1962 c. F. OSGOOD 3,062,519

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1958 5 SheetsSheet 2 FIG.3.'

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l9 2| 20 2| I I9 INVENTORZ Nov. 6, 1962 c. F. OSGOOD 3,062,519

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORZ Nov. 6, 1962 c. F. OSGOOD 3,062,519

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVENTORi Nov. 6, 1962 c. F. OSGOOD 3,062

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISINTEGRATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. l0, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: MW

3,062,519 MINING AND LUADING MACHINE HAVING PIV- OTALLY MOUNTED ROTARY DISENTEGRATING MECHANISM Chartres F. ()sgood, Franklin, Pa, assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 772,885 23 Claims. (Cl. 26219) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a machine for mining mineral from a solid vein and for loading out the dislodged mineral as mining progresses.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mining apparatus having improved mining mechanism for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein. Another object is to provide an improved rotary disintegrating mechanism for such an apparatus. A further object is to provide an improved mineral disintegrating mechanism embodying a pair of cooperating rotating disintegrators mounted on a swinging frame and moving in an arcuate path during the mining operation. Yet another object is to provide a mineral disintegrating mechanism of the above character wherein the swinging frame moves in vertical planes to move the disintegrators in an arcuate path through the mineral vein between the roof and floor of a mine to dislodge the mineral from the mine vein so that it may pile up on the floor and be loaded out. A still further object is to provide an improved mining and loading machine wherein a swinging boring type disintegrating mechanism is mounted to swing downwardly from the roof level toward the mine floor to dislodge the mineral and to move it toward the loading head of the machine. Still another object is to provide an improved adjustable mounting means for a swingable disintegrating head mechanism for varying the operating height of the latter. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration several forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view and FIG. 2 is a side view of a mining and loading machine in which a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention is incorporated.

PEG. 3 is an enlarged front end view of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, showing a portion of the drive for the rotary disintegrators.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan and side views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating a modified form of the rotary disintegrating mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front end view of the machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on line 38 of FIG. 7, showing a portion of the rotary disintegrator and cutter chain drive.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of a mining and loading machine, illustrating another modified form of rotary disintegrating mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a front end view of the machine shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively side and front end views of a mining and loading machine embodying a further modified form of rotary disintegrating mechanism.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are respectively side and front end views illustrating still another modified form of rotary disintegrating mechanism.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown 3,%Z,5i9 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive the mining and loading machine embodies a mobile base 1, desirably a crawler base, carrying a main frame 2 on the forward portion of which a loading head frame 3 is tiltably mounted to rock in vertical planes relative to the base frame, as is usual with loading machines of this type. Pivotally mounted at 4 on the front ends of vertically swingable arms 5 is a swinging disintegrator frame 6 carrying rotary disintegrating mechanism generally designated 7 for dislodging and disintegrating the mineral of a mine vein. The dislodged and disintegrated mineral falls toward the mine floor during the mining operation and is engaged by gathering mechanism 8 on the loading head frame and is moved thereby onto a conveyor 9 which in turn moves the mineral received thereby rearwardly along the machine to discharge at the rear end of the machine. The conveyor 9 extends longitudinally along the top of the main frame and is guided at its receiving end on the tiltable loading head frame 3.

The swingable side arms 5 may be tilted in unison by various known means herein desirably by conventional fluid jacks 10 connected between the main frame and the loading head frame as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the gathering mechanism 8 on the loading head frame comprises cooperating oscillating gatherers 11 for gathering the disintegrated mineral and moving the same toward the receiving end of the conveyor.

The head frame 6 may be swung in vertical planes about its pivot on the loading head frame by various means herein desirably by conventional fluid jacks 12 connected between the swingable side arms 5 and the lower inner portion of the swingable disintegrator frame 6 and the pivot 4 is located in a relatively low position at the forward portion of the loading head frame 3 so that the disintegrating mechanism 7 may swing from the roof level downwardly in an arc to a position in advance of the loading head near the floor level. Evidently the side arms 5 may be swung upwardly about their pivots to vary the elevation of the pivot 4 for the swinging disintegrator frame 6 so as to accommodate the disintegrating mechanism to mine veins of varying heights.

Now referring to the detail structure of the disintegrating mechanism 7 it will be noted that the swinging head frame 6 has vertical side arms 13 and a transverse outer horizontal frame portion 14- and the inverted U-shaped frame thus provided straddles the loading head and has side trunnions 15 engaging pivot elements carried by the side arms 5 at the sides of the loading head. The transverse outer frame portion 14 is in the form of a gear housing and has mounted rearwardly thereof a driving motor 16 which drives through intermeshing spur gearing 17 contained within the gear housing a series of parallel rotor shafts 18 which are arranged with their axes lying in a common transverse plane extending across the head frame 6. The rotor shaft axes also lie in parallel vertical planes extending longitudinally of the machine. These rotor shafts project forwardly from the transverse frame portion 14 and have secured thereto rotary disintegrators or boring cutters 18 arranged to move in parallel orbits to form overlapping bores or cuts in the mineral to be dislodged. These rotary boring cutters may assume various known forms but herein include peripheral cutters 19 and a central drilling cutter and core breaker 20. Each rotary cutter has diametrically opposite lateral arms carrying face cutters 21 so that as the cutters are advanced toward the face the mineral is completely disintegrated and as the swinging frame 6 is swung downwardly the rotary cutters move in arcuate paths completely to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral between the mine roof and mine floor. In this illustrative construction the boring cutters move in staggered or out of step relation, as shown in FIG. 3, and one arm of each cutter is substantially shorter than the other so that the peripheral cutting elements carried thereby move in concentric orbits to form concentric cores of mineral which are dislodged by the intermediate face cutters 21. Evidently the rotary cutters and disintegrators may assume various other forms.

As is usual in mining and loading machines of the type disclosed, the tiltable loading head frame 3 has a transverse frame portion 23 provided with a series of penetrating teeth or serrations 24 extending along the floor level so that as the machine is advanced any projections of mineral left on the mine floor during the disintegrating operation are dislodged to provide a relatively smooth bottom surface over which the base of the machine may advance.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. to 8 inclusive the base, frame structure and loading head of the mining and loading machine are essentially the same as those of the preferred embodiment but, in this instance, the rotary disintegrating mechanism generally designated 25 is somewhat different from that of the preferred embodiment. As shown, the inverted U-shaped head frame 6 has supported at the outer portions of its side arms 13 a transverse horizontal cutter frame 26 providing about the margin of its front face a guideway 27 along which an endless cutter chain 28 is guided for orbital circulation. This cutter chain passes around side sprockets 29 herein desirably driven by conventional fluid motors 30 mounted on the rear side of the transverse cutter frame 26. Arranged on parallel axes in a transverse row across the front side of the cutter frame 26 is a series of rotary disintegrators or boring cutters 31 each having diametrically opposite arms 32 carrying disintegrating cutters 33 arranged along the front faces of the arms. Each boring cutter has a central drill head 34. The rotary boring cutters are secured to parallel shafts 35 projecting forwardly in parallel relation from the transverse cutter frame portions 26 and suitably journaled therein and these shafts are connected to rotate in timed relation by drive chains 36 and are driven by individual fluid motors 37 mounted at the rear side of the transverse cutter frame. As the head frame 6 is swung downwardly about its pivot 4 on the side arms 5' the rectangular shaped cutter chain cuts out a generally rectangular core of mineral in the mine vein between the roof and floor of the mine and this mineral core is broken up and dislodged by the series of rotary cutters or disintegrators. The lowered position of the disintegrating head mechanism is indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and the mobile base 1 carries a main frame 2' on the forward portion of which a loading head frame 3' is tiltably mounted. Pivotally mounted at 4% on the forward portion of the main frame at opposite sides of the tiltable loading head frame are parallel side arms 41 which extend generally longitudinally in advance of the machine base. Swinging means in the form of fluid jacks 42 serve to swing the side arms in vertical planes and to hold them in their different positions of adjustment. Pivotally mounted at 43 on the outer end of the parallel side arms is a transverse horizontal cutter frame 44, and this head frame may be tilted about its pivot as by fluid jacks 45. The head frame has at the forward side of its transverse outer portion a marginal guideway 46 along which an endless cutter chain 47 is guided for orbital circulation. This transverse frame portion has a series of parallel shafts arranged in a transverse row thereacross and these shafts are driven through gearing by a motor 16' mounted on the head frame, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Secured to these parallel shafts are rotary disintegrators or boring cutters 48 arranged in side by side overlapping relation and carrying peripheral and face cutters and having central boring cutters, as in the embodiments above described. The endless cutter chain passes around sprockets 49 mounted on the outer or end shafts and these sprockets are likewise driven by the motor 16'. The rotary cutters or distintegrators form parallel overlapping bores in the mineral as the head frame is swung forwardly and downwardly between the roof and floor and the horizontal top runs of the cutter chain serve to cut off the cusps of mineral left at the roof by the boring cutters so that a relatively smooth roof surface is provided.

The disintegrating mechanism when positioned as shown in full lines in FIG. 9 may be sumped into the mineral of the mine Vein at the roof by advancing the entire machine toward the working face and after sumping the jacks may be operated to tilt the head frame ,4 downwardly about its pivot 43 relative to the side arms to locate the disintegrating mechanism with its front face directed forwardly and downwardly. The cutters of the cutter chain are, in this instance, so arranged at the periphery and face of the chain that as the head is tilted downwardly they may cut the underlying mineral. When the head is in its downward facing or tilted position the side arms 41 may be swung downwardly by the fluid jacks 42 to move the disintegrating mechanism in an arcuate path toward the floor to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral. Also, if desired, in this form of the invention, the disintegrating head mechanism when positioned as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 may be sumped straight into the face at the roof and thereafter may be retracted and again sumped straight in at the floor, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, to provide overlapping top and bottom cuts without downward tilting and swinging of the outer head mechanism.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 the rotary disintegrators or boring cutters of the disintegrating mechanism may be similar to those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may be similarly driven. In this modified construction the transverse outer portion of the swinging head frame has pivoted armlike portions 51 (FIG. 12) which have the outer boring cutters journaled thereon. These side arms 51 are normally horizontally disposed, as shown in FIG. 12, so that the boring cutters are arranged in a transverse row across the front side of the transverse portion of the swinging head frame. The side arms 51 may be swung downwardly about pivots herein desirably aligned with the axes of rotation of the next adjacent boring cutters, and any suitable means such as fluid jacks 52 may be employed to swing these side arms about their pivots and to hold the same in adjusted position. By swinging the side cutters downwardly and inwardly to the lower dotted line positions shown in FIG. 12 the lateral limits of the disintegrating head mechanism may be decreased to facilitate maneuvering of the machine about the mine. As in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the head mechanism may be tilted downwardly relative to its supporting arm structure, as indicated in dotted lines, and thereafter the head mechanism may be swung downwardly with the arm structure (see also FIG. 11).

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 the tiltable head frame 44' has an opencentered generally oval guide frame 55 about its margin along which an endless cutter chain 56 is guided for orbital circulation for cutting out a core of mineral from the vein as the head frame is swung to move the disintegrating mecha-nism downwardly in an are between the roof and floor. The endless loop cutter chain passes around and is guided by side sprockets 57 which also serve to drive the cutter chains. Arranged in a transverse row across the front side of the head frame within the orbit of the cutter chain is a series of rotary disintegrators 58 having wedge shaped core breakers 59 and these disintegrators engage and break up the core of mineral as it is formed by the loop cutter chain. The loop cutter chain and the rotary disintegrators or core breakers may be driven in essentially the same manner as the cutter chain and boring cutters of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 the head mechanism may be tilted downwardly relative to the supporting arm structure, as shown in dotted lines, and may thereafter be swung downwardly with the arm structure.

In the several forms of the invention above described the mining and loading machine may be propelled by the crawler base and when the machine is located in the working face the disintegrating head mechanism may be swung upwardly about its pivot to the roof of the mine and the loading head frame may be tilted down to the floor. The disintegrating mechanism may then be moved forwardly and downwardly to penetrate and dislodge the mineral of the mine vein between the floor and roof, and the disintegrated mineral may be gathered from the floor and moved by the gathering arms 11 toward the receiving end of the conveyor 9. The series of rotary boring heads or rotary disintegrators, and in certain forms the endless cutter chains cooperating therewith, serve to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral and move the disintegrated mineral toward the loading head.

As a result of this invention an improved mining and loading machine is provided having improved rotary disintegrating mechanism swingable arcuately in vertical planes between the mine roof and floor for dislodging and disintegrating the mineral of a solid mine vein. By mounting the rotary disintegrators on the forward side of a vertically swingable head frame the disintegrators may be arcuately moved forwardly and downwardly in vertical planes to penetrate and dislodge the mineral so that the dislodged mineral may pile up on the floor for loading. By the novel arrangement and mounting of the rotary boring mechanism on a swinging frame in turn supported for adjustment in elevation relative to the machine base it is possible to mine out mineral veins of varying heights. By mounting the disintegrating head mechansim on a tiltable frame for swinging in vertical planes the dislodging and disintegrating action is substantially improved and a single relatively vertically narrow transverse row of rotary disintegrators may operate in mine veins of substantial height as they are swung arcuately between the roof and floor of the mine. By swinging the lateral frame portions of the disintegrating mechanism downwardly it is possible to decrease the width of the disintegrating head for maneuvering purposes. Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described several forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining machine comprising a mobile base having a frame, a head frame pivotally mounted on said base frame to swing in vertical planes relative thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, said head frame having a transverse horizontal outer frame portion, a series of parallel shafts arranged in a single transverse horizontal row across said outer frame portion with their axes lying in parallel vertical planes extending longitudinally of the machine, means on said head frame for driving said shafts, rotary distintegrator respectively secured to said shafts at the forward side of said head frame when the latter is in its initial terminal position, said disintegrators having disintegrating elements moving in circular orbits about the shaft axes with said orbits being of diameters consisting of a relatively small part of the height of the mine vein, said orbits at their tops and bottoms respectively having parallel horizontal lines tangent thereto, said rotary disintegrators disposed wholly in a relatively narrow transverse zone lying between said parallel lines across said outer portion of said head frame, and power operated means for swinging said head frame about its transverse horizontal axis bodily to move said rotary disintegrators at a mineral disintegrating speed generally in a direction axially thereof through a wide are between said initial terminal position and an opposite terminal position widely spaced from said initial position, one terminal position being disposed at the roof and the other terminal position being disposed at the floor, to disintegrate the mineral with a single continuous sweep substantially the full height of the mine vein there being an open space in advance of the frame pivot to receive said rotary disintegrators when the latter are swung in said arc from one terminal position to the other.

2. A mining machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary disintegrators comprise rotary boring cutters for forming parallel contiguous bores in the mineral along parallel curved paths as said head frame is swung forwardly and downwardly to move said boring cutters through said wide are as aforesaid.

3. A mining machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein means is carried by said base for adjusting the elevation of the pivot of said head frame relative to said base frame to vary the vertical operating range of said rotary disintegrators.

4. In a mining machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the elevation of the pivot of said head frame comprises an arm structure supporting the head frame pivot and pivotally mounted on said base frame to swing in vertical planes relative thereto.

5. In a mining and loading machine, a mobile base having a frame, and mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism pivotally mounted on the forward portion of said base frame to swing relative thereto and having a head frame carrying a straight transverse horizontal row of rotary disintegrators having parallel axes and disposed in side by side relation wholly in a relatively narrow transverse zone at the outer portion of said head frame, and means for swinging said head frame about its pivot to move said disintegrators relative to the face of a mine vein in a direction bodily axially through a wide are between relatively widely spaced terminal positions respectively, one close to the roof and the other close to the floor, for dislodging and disintegrating the mineral., there being an open space in advance of said base frame in which said rotary disintegrators are received when the latter move from one terminal position to the other, said swinging means upon swinging of said head frame moving said rotary disintegrators into said positions wherein they are disposed either completely above or completely below the longitudinal median line of said base, the axes of rotation of said disintegrators being inclined downwardly toward the floor when said disintegrators are in their terminal position close to the floor.

6. In a mining machine, a mobile base having a base frame carrying loading means disposable at the floor level for loading disintegrated mineral on the mine floor, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said base frame to swing in vertical planes relative to said base frame and said loading means while the latter remains in loading position at the floor level, a head frame pivotally mounted on the outer portion of said arm structure to swing in vertical planes relative to said arm structure, a relatively narrow transversely extending rotary disintegrating mechanism carried by said head frame and adapted to be fed forwardly into the mine vein at a relatively high position near the roof and swingable downwardly to a relatively low position close to the mine floor to dislodge the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein, and means for swinging said arm structure and said head frame about their respective pivots, there being an open space in advance of said base frame beneath said disintegrating mechanism when the latter is in its relatively high position and said space receiving said disintegrating mechanism as the latter moves into its relatively low position.

7. A mining machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said disintegrating mechanism has peripheral and face disintegrating elements capable of cutting the mineral as said head is moved forwardly into the mine vein and for cutting the mineral beneath said head when the latter is swung downwardly from its initial position.

8. In a mining and loading machine, a mobile base having a base frame, a loading head carried at the forward portion of said base frame and having material gathering means for gathering disintegrated mineral on the mine floor, and arm structure pivotally mounted on said base frame to swing in vertical planes about a transverse axis relative thereto and said head, said arm structure extending forwardly in advance of said loading head, mineral disintegrating mechanism carried at the outer portion of said arm structure and disposed in a relatively vertically narrow transverse zone extending across said outer portion of said arm structure, and means for swinging said arm structure to move said disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes in a direction bodily forwardly through a wide are between relatively widely spaced terminal positions respectively close to the roof and floor of the mine to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein with a single vertical sweep, said disintegrating mechanism when in its initial terminal position having its lowermost portion located above the longitudinal median line of said base and when in its opposite terminal position having its uppermost portion located below said median line and directed generally downwardly toward the floor.

9. A mining and loading machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein mounting means is provided on said base frame at the sides of said loading head and extending longitudinally along the sides of said head in advance thereof, said arm structure pivotally mounted on said mounting means to swing relative to said loading head about a transverse horizontal axis disposed in advance of said loading head.

10. A mining and loading machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting means comprises parallel side arm pivoted to swing in vertical planes about a parallel rearwardly located transverse axis and means for swinging said side arms in unison about their pivots and for holding the same in adjusted position.

11. In a mining and loading machine, a mobile base having a base frame, a loading head carried at the forward portion of said base frame and having gathering means for gathering disintegrated mineral on the mine floor, a head frame pivoted on a transverse axis to swing in vertical planes relative to said base frame and said loading head, means for mounting said head frame on said base frame with the head frame pivot located relatively near the mine floor rearwardly of the forward portion of said loading head, disintegrating mechanism carried at the forward outer portion of said swingable head frame in a relatively vertically narrow zone extending transversely across said outer portion of said head frame, and means for swinging said head frame in a direction bodily forwardly and downwardly about its pivot to move said disintegrating mechanism in vertical planes in a wide arc between relatively widely spaced terminal positions respectively close to the mine roof and floor to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein with a single vertical sweep, there being an open space in advance of said base frame beneath said disintegrating mechanism into which the latter moves as it swings downwardly from its raised terminal position to its lowered terminal position, said narrow transverse zone of said disintegrating mechanism when the latter is in said terminal positions respectively disposed completely above and completely below the longitudinal median line of said base, said disintegrating mechanism when in its lowermost position near the floor being directed downwardly toward the floor.

12. A mining and loading machine as set forth in claim 55 11 wherein said mounting means comprises longitudinally extending supporting arms arranged at the opposite sides of said base frame and extending longitudinally along the sides of said loading ead in spaced relation thereto, said arms carrying said transverse pivot for said head frame.

13. In a mining machine, a base movable over the floor of a mine, and mineral disintegrating mechanism for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein comprising a head frame pivotally mounted at the forward portion of the frame of said base to swing in vertical planes, disintegrating means rotatably mounted on said head frame includ ing a series of rotary disintegrators arranged in a single straight transverse row on parallel axes wholly in a relatively narrow transverse zone across the outer portion of said head frame, and means for swinging said head frame about its pivot to move said rotary disintegrators through a wide are between a relatively high terminal position near the roof and a relatively low terminal position near the floor for removing the mineral with a single vertical sweep substantially the full height of the mine vein, the axes of rotation of said rotary disintegrators being disposed in all positions of swing thereof along lines extending tangentially to said wide arc of swing.

14. In a mining machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein the axes of rotation of said rotary disintegrator when located near the roof are disposed nearly horizontal, and when located near the floor are disposed nearly vertical.

15. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a mobile base movable over the floor of a mine, and mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism mounted on said base for mining mineral from a mine vein to form a passageway of sufficient cross sectional area to receive the apparatus as mining proceeds, said mechanism determining the maximum width of the apparatus and comprising a vertically narrow disintegrator extending transversely across the face and having cutters movable in circular orbits and arranged in side by side parallel relation, with the tops and bottoms of the orbits respectively lying between parallel horizontal lines tangent to said orbits, said orbits each being of a diameter substantially less than the vertical dimension of the mine vein and disposed in the narrow transverse zone between said parallel lines, and means for swinging said disintegrator bodily generally in the direction of the orbit-axes through a wide arc in vertical planes between relatively widely separated terminal positions respectively near the roof and floor of the mine to disintegrate the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein there being an open space in advance of said base beneath said disintegrator when the latter is in one terminal position and said space receiving said disintegrator when the latter is moved from said one terminal position to its opposite terminal position.

16. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said disintegrator includes a series of boring cutter heads arranged in a transverse horizontal row with their parallel axes lying in a common transverse plane, said cutter heads carrying said orbitally movable cutters.

17. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cutters cut contiguous bores in the mineral of the mine vein and said disintegrator includes trim cutter means for cutting the V-shaped projections or cusps left between the contiguous bores cut by said orbitally movable cutters.

18. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said trim cutter means comprises an endless cutter chain traveling in a horizontally elongated orbit with the opposite longer runs of the chain extending in transverse parallelism, and with the axes of said cutter orbits lying within the orbit of said endless cutter chain.

19. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a mobile base movable over the floor of a mine, and mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism mounted on said base for mining mineral from a mine vein to form a passageway of suificient cross sectional area to receive the apparatus as mining proceeds, said mechanism determining the maximum width of the apparatus and comprising a vertically narrow disintegrator extending transversely across the face and having cutters movable in circular orbits, with the tops and bottoms of the orbits respectively lying between parallel horizontal lines tangent to said orbits, said orbits each being of a diameter substantially less than the vertical dimension of the mine vein and disposed in the narrow transverse zone between said parallel lines, and means for swinging said disintegrator through a wide arc in vertical planes between relatively widely separated terminal positions respectively near the roof and floor of the mine to disintegrate the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein, the axes of said orbits being parallel and at all times maintained tangent to the arc of said path of swing of said disintegrator.

20. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a mobile base movable over the floor of a mine, and mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism mounted on said base for mining mineral from a mine vein to form a passageway of sufiicient cross sectional dimensions to receive the apparatus as mining proceeds, said mechanism determining the maximum width of the apparatus and comprising a disintegrator extending transversely across the face and having boring cutters movable in similar circular orbits arranged in parallel side by side relation, with said cutters disposed in a single transverse row in a narrow transverse zone whose height is substantially equal to the diameter of one of the cutter-orbits, and means for swinging said disintegrator bodily in the direction of the orbit-axes through a wide arc about a transverse axis between relatively widely separated terminal positions respectively near the roof and floor of the mine, to disintegrate the mineral substantially the full height of the mine vein, said disintegrator when in its terminal position near the roof disposed entirely above the longitudinal central portion of said base, there being an open space in advance of said base beneath said disintegrator when the latter is in its terminal position at the roof and said space receiving said disintegrator as the latter is moved downwardly into its terminal position at the floor.

21. In a mining apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism includes means for moving the outermost boring cutters of said transverse row inwardly toward the intermediate cutters to reduce the lateral extent of said dislodging and disintegrating mechanism.

22. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 20 where- 10 in said mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism comprises means for moving the outermost boring cutters inwardly relative to the intermediate cutters to reduce the lateral dimensions of said dislodging and disintegrating mechanism while the parallel relation of said cutters is maintained.

23. In a mining apparatus, the combination of a mobile base movable over the floor of a mine, and mineral dislodging and disintegrating mechanism mounted on said base for mining mineral from a mine vein to form a passageway of suflicient cross sectional dimensions to receive the apparatus as mining proceeds, said mechanism determining the maximum width of the apparatus and comprising a disintegrator extending transversely across the face and having cutters movable in circular orbits arranged in parallel side by side relation, with said cutters disposed in a single transverse row in a narrow transverse zone whose height is substantially equal to the diameter of the cutterorbits, and means for swinging said disintegrator bodily generally in the direction of the orbit-axes through a wide are about a transverse axis between widely separated terminal positions respectively near the roof and floor of the mine, to disintegrate the mineral with a single continuous sweep substantially the full height of the mine vein, said disintegrator when in its relatively high terminal position near the roof disposed entirely above the longitudinal central portion of said base and when in its relatively low terminal position near the floor disposed completely below the longitudinal median line of said base, there being an open space in advance of said base beneath said disintegrator when the latter is in its terminal position at the roof and said space receiving said disintegrator as it is moved downwardly into its opposite terminal position at the floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,869 Drake Dec. 22, 1903 1,445,230 Morgan Feb. 13, 1923 2,599,042 Bannister June 3, 1952 2,606,010 Howard Aug. 5, 1952 2,776,126 Anderson Jan. 1, 1957 2,777,681 Ball Jan. 15, 1957 2,877,999 Synder et al Mar. 17, 1959 2,920,879 Driehaus Jan. 12, 1960 

